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Times -Advocate, May 15, 1996'
.Aril
This Week in Sports...
• Grand Bend salmon & trout fishing derby - page 15'
• Dart players and bowlers honored - page 20
Local black belt will compete in
World Championships in Spain
Exeter Tae Kwon Do student will represent Canada at World Junior Championship
By Chrb Skalitos
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Robert Khamsouk, a
student of Exeter Tae Kwon Do has
made the Canadian National Junior
team.
Khamsouk joined a team of five
representing team Ontario at the
1996 Canadian Junior Champion-
ships held in Edmonton, Alberta on
May 4.
Exeter Tae Kwon Do students
Robert Hoang, Colin Grasdahl, Jo
Dee Grasdahl and Robert Kham-
souk competed as black belts and
Adam Rathwell competed in a col-
or belt exhibition category.
The four black belts were among
20 young students from Ontario vy-
ing for a position on the Canadian
National Junior team. Only first
place finishers in each weight cat-
egory were offered a position to
represent their country at the first
annual World Junior Tae Kwon Do
Championships which will be held
in Barcelona, Spain from June 26
to July 1.
Khamsouk, 15 earned second
place in the Flyweight division los-
ing a tough match to a competitor
from Saskatchewan who won the
gold medal.
However, the student who won
first place injured himself while
training shortly after the competi-
tion which automatically gives sil-
ver medalist Khamsouk a spot on
the national team.
His instructor, Sai Visouvath said
he learned about the offer over the •
phone a week after the competition
in Alberta. He said he was glad it
worked out this way because he felt
Khamsouk was the better martial
artist.
"It was very close. It could have
gone either way," said Visouvath
about Khamsouk's match against
the student from Saskatchewan.
"Robert was faster and showed bet-
ter technique but the judge's de-
cision is final."
Khamsouk fought four com-
petitors in a full contact Olympic
style point sparring format which
allows knock -outs such as in box-
ing.
Colin Grasdahl, Hoang, and Rath -
well also performed well and Jo
Dee Grasdahl, who is two-time Ca-
nadian Junior Champion clinching
the Junior title in 1995 and again in
1996 also placed second earning a
silver medal in the Welterweight di-
vision. Now at 17 years -old this
was her last chance to compete in
the junior level and will look for-
ward to competing as a senior.
Visouvath was impressed by his
students' performance in Edmonton
considering the high calibre of
young martial artists at the com-
petition.
He and Khamsouk will embark
on an intense training schedule to
prepare for the World Champion-
ship in Spain and Visouvath will
also be looking for sponsors to help
fund the trip.
Win or lose, Visouvath said earn-
ing the right to represent your
country is a big accomplishment
and he hopes the experience will
help groom Khamstoitk"for the
Olympics itf the year :2000 when
Tae Kwon Do will be recognized
as a full medal sport.
"I'm overwhelmed! This is a one
chance in a life -time," said Kham-
souk when contacted by the T -A
Exeter Tae Kwon Do students from leftPoliert Hoang, Adam Rathwe/l, Jo Dee. Grasdahl,
Colin Grasdahl and Robert Kharhsouk travelled to Edmonton, Alberta to compete In the Ca-
nadian Junior World Tae KWon Do Championships on May 4. Jo Dee Grasdahl and Robert
Khamsouk earned silver medalsand Khamsouk made the national team after the first place
black belt in the Flyweight divisid t inured himself and was declared unfit to compete. He will
go on to compete in the World Junior Championships In icelona Spain.
t):r. 1t,:r _
over the phone on Monday. ..He
said he will train five times a week
for the next six weeks including a
grueling training session every;
Sunday with fourth degree black
belt, James Taylor, Headmaster of
1Bluewater Tae. Kwon Do in Sarnia.
Khamsouk said there is no pres-
sure in being one of the ap-
proximately 30 competitors that
will represent Canada at the World
championship, instead he explained
'it's one of the biggest honors of his
life.
"I'm going to work hard and do
my best for myself and for my
country," he said.
Shuffleboard
Hensel'
May 7
6 gate winners
Doug Insley
Hazel McEwan
Dave Woodward
Russell Ferguson
Alice Thiel
Edna Deitz
Ethel McMurtrie
Pearl McKnight
Exeter
May 8
4 game winners
Marjorie Hodgert
Hal Walsh
Gil Northey
Doris Miller
Tom Williams
011ie Essery
3 game winners
Muriel Marshall
Joe Gosar .
Sena Gosar
Doris Denham
May 9
4 game winners
Howard Johns
Gil Northey
Ray Bennewies
Marge McCurdy
Lloyd Lovell
Allen Johns
2 game winner
Joe Gosar
542
506
476
466
439
424
376
355
517
411
375
367
364
352
322
306
142
13"
532
525
398
396
391
310
224
McCanns, the All -Ontario family
MOUNT CARMEL - Jim and Deb McCann of Mount Carmel are av-
erage small community hockey parents who have had a not -so -average
year.
The couple have three sons playing hockey at three different levels
and last season all three played in an All -Ontario final.
Jesse and Adam play in the Stephen Township Minor
Hockey system and Ben played for the Exeter Junior
"D" Hawks.
Jesse played on the Atoms team that clinched the
OMHA All -Ontario Championship after defeating
Woodville in five games and Ben helped the Exeter
Hawks to their first OHA provincial championship in 20
years. Adam came short of joining his brothers on the
Champion's podium when the Peewees lost their bid for
an All -Ontario Championship playing against a strong
team from Port Carling. However, Adam wasn't dis-
appointed. His team advanced to the final round convinc-
ingly forcing the series to five games and they came
within three points of winning it all.
Adam said he was proud of his team for making it that
far and was just as proud of his brothers for going all the
way.
Having three sons play in three different All -Ontario
champions,iip games is not common among hockey fam-
ilies, but having them accomplish this in the same season
is unheard of.
The McCanns said they never realized all three were
heading into this situation until friends began men-
tioning it, but they admit they were so busy with helping
their sons keep their practice and game schedules they
didn't have time to stop and think about it.
"It was hectic sometimes and it took up a lot of our
time but we enjoyed it," said Deb McCann.
While the boys were facing their challenges on the ice,
the McCanns were facing a peculiar challenge of their
own.
How do two parents attend three different games taking
place at around the same time?
Jim and Deb faced this situation late in the playoffs but
managed to see two periods of each game hopping back
and forth from the Stephen Arena and the South Huron
Recreation Centre.
"It's funny how it works out, we were able to make at
least 95 per cent of their games," said Jim McCann.
Driving them to their practices and games was also a challenge.
With only two vehicles on the road at one time, the McCann some-
times had to rely on friends and family to help make their . schedules;
and as any hockey parent knows, a lot of time is spent on the road.
"We've seen most of Ontario...they (the kids) usually know how far
away a town is by how many minutes it takes to get there," added Jim.
However, now that Ben is old enough to obtain his driver's license they
expect travelling arrangements next season to be easier.
Watching their sons play was also a test on their stress level and Jim
and Dch joke about aging through the process.
pace," she said.
Other than some recreational hockey, Jim doesn't consider himself
to be a big influence on his kid's hockey career adding that his sons
discovered the sport themselves while playing on outdoor rinks with
their cousins during the winter.
"They were never pressured to play...it just happened," explained
Deb.
Jim credits Jesse and Adam's recent success
to Stephen Township Minor Hockey and the
amount of support it enjoys by the parents of
children involved.
"They have been pretty lucky to play on good
teams in a strong system. Good coaching and
leadership helps develop a good team at-
mosphere," he said.
Ben McCann is also quick to point out the
coaching element for taking the Exeter Hawks
to a provincial championship. Ben was named
the Rookie of the Year for the Hawks but he
said the award was a direct result of his team-
mates.
"Winning that was a surprise...we had a lot of
good rookies on our team and they all deserved
an award because when everybody plays as a
team each player also reflects on you," said Ben.
The arrival of spring doesn't mark the end of
the hockey season for the McCanns as Ben is
playing summer hockey with the North Mid-
dlesex Mustangs, a prospect tournament team.
And in between bouts of some of their favorite
summer sports, all three are avid roller -hockey
players.
"There's not a month of the year that they
don't have a hockey stick in their hands," said
Deb. �.
Next season Jesse will play his second year in
the Atom level while Adam will move up to
play Bantam. Ben will consider trying -out for
the Hawks again next season but said he
wouldn't ignote any other opportunities that
may arise.
The McCann family in Mount Carmel, Jim, deb, Jesse, Adam and Ben, load up the Suburban Por Jim and Deb, watching all three sons ad -
with hockey equipment for another trip to the rink. Jim and Deb McCann watched their sons vance to an All -Ontario Championship game
play on three different All -Ontario playoff games last season. with different teams was a thrilling experience;
however, they emphasized having fun and de -
"It was almost a relief when it was all over because all three series veloping good hockey skills is more importaht than winning trophies.
were so tight you could hardly enjoy it." said 31m. But if they find themselves in the same situation again next year, as
For Deb, the overtime games were difficult to watch at times. their kid's biggest fans and supporters, they would be willing to do it
"I find the overtime games very exciting but sometimes I have to alt over again. •